University of Notre Dame
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PhD in Physics
Physics graduate students are actively involved in both experimental and theoretical studies in areas including astro-, atomic, bio-, condensed-matter, high-energy, and nuclear physics. They search for answers to questions such as: What is dark matter? Can we understand the birth or death of stars at the nuclear level? Can we create new materials with new properties? What can network science say about our world? What is the origin of mass?
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Application Requirements
Admission requirements and deadlines vary from program to program. Applicants should review the websites for the programs to which they are applying via the Departments and Programs page for additional information.
Many requirements, however, are consistent across programs, depending on whether the applicant is degree- or non-degree-seeking (visit the Application Categories page to understand the difference.)
These requirements include a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, as well as an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or greater on a 4.0 scale. The rest of the general requirements are listed below.
Please note that all required application materials must be attached to the online application, and that test scores should be ordered and sent by the testing service to the University of Notre Dame (institution code: 1841).
Required Materials for Degree-Seeking Applicants:
Online Application Form: to be found here , and completed and submitted electronically
Statement of Intent: to be attached to your Online Application Form
Curriculum Vitae or Résumé: to be attached to your Online Application Form
Three Letters of Recommendation: to be submitted by the recommender via the online recommendation system associated with the online application
Application Fee: to be submitted via credit card, check, or money order using the payment system associated with the Online Application Form. The Graduate School may grant application fee waivers for a variety of reasons. For information about requesting a fee waiver, visit our application fee and waiver page .
Transcripts: An unofficial transcript for each post-secondary institution must be uploaded and submitted through the Online Application Form. Any transcripts received either by mail or electronically will be discarded. An official transcript — including at least one showing the conferral of a bachelor's degree — will be required only if the student accepts an offer of admission to Notre Dame.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Test Scores: Some graduate programs require the GRE; for more details, please see the Degree Programs page or the program's website. Applicants who hold a PhD, JD, MD or other doctoral degree are not required to submit GRE scores.
GRE Subject Test Scores (if required): (from within the last five years) to be submitted from the official testing service, if required by the program (consult individual program’s website)
TOEFL or IELTS: applicants whose native language or language of college instruction is not English must arrange for the submission of official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) to demonstrate language proficiency. Applicants from Mainland China who are unable to take the standard TOEFL iBT test due to testing suspensions may submit TOEFL ITP Plus for China Solution scores. This solution combines the existing paper-delivered TOEFL ITP Level 1 test with a short, unscored video interview provided by Vericant. The scores reported must result from a test taken within the last two years. To expedite the review process, you may also upload preliminary (unofficial) scores, if available.
Required Materials for Non-Degree Applicants:
Application Fee: to be submitted via credit card, check, or money order using the payment system associated with the Online Application Form
Transcripts: (for each post-secondary institution) to be submitted through the Online Application Form. (Please send unofficial transcripts; we will only accept official transcripts if and when the applicant is accepted.)
Special Program Requirements:
Some programs require additional materials such as writing samples and portfolios.
Please consult your prospective program for additional requirements and be sure to submit each additional item. Writing samples should be attached electronically to the online application through the Uploads section.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants:
Transcripts in any language other than English must be translated into English by a certified translator and/or agency. The translated transcript must be uploaded to the application in addition to the original-language transcript and all other requisite materials for degree and non-degree applicants.
Non-Native English Speakers:
Non-native English speakers must also order official TOEFL/IELTS scores.
Joint Degree Applicants:
An applicant who seeks to earn a joint degree must submit a separate and complete application to each program and be accepted by both.
The relevant departments must agree upon a plan of study defining what will constitute the joint degree program, and the written plan must be approved by the Graduate School’s associate dean of academic affairs before the student may be admitted to begin the program. If you are considering such an application, please contact the Graduate School for further information.
Further Questions:
If you have questions about the required materials or preparing your application, consult the Admissions FAQ . For any additional questions, please contact the Office of Graduate Recruitment and Admissions at [email protected] .
To request more information about a specific program or programs, please use the online form .
If you are ready to begin, click here to start your application . Once submitted, the application may not be changed; however, you may upload recommenders at a later time.
Thank you for considering Notre Dame for your graduate studies.
University of Notre Dame
Ranked in 7 program s and 7 specialt ies
Explore This School's Science School
Biological Sciences
Program and Specialty rankings
- # 68 in Biological Sciences (tie)
Department of Biological Sciences Contact Information
107 Galvin Life Science Centers , Notre Dame , IN 46556
(574) 631-6552
- # 46 in Chemistry (tie)
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Contact Information
251 Nieuwland Science Hall , Notre Dame , IN 46556-5670
(574) 631-7058
Computer Science
- # 56 in Computer Science (tie)
Department of Computer Science & Engineering Contact Information
384 Fitzpatrick Hall , Notre Dame , IN 46556
(574) 631-8320
Earth Sciences
- # 98 in Earth Sciences (tie)
Department of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences Contact Information
156 Fitzpatrick Hall , Notre Dame , IN 46556
(574) 631-5380
- # 37 in Mathematics (tie)
Department of Mathematics Contact Information
255 Hurley Hall , Notre Dame , IN 46556-4618
(574) 631-7245
- # 47 in Physics (tie)
Department of Physics Contact Information
225 Nieuwland Science Hall , Notre Dame , IN 46556-5670
(574) 631-6386
Statistics (Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics)
- # 61 in Statistics (tie)
Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics Contact Information
400 Main Building , Notre Dame , IN 46556
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University of Notre Dame PhD in Physics
The main focus area for this major is General Physics . For more details on this concentration, visit its profile page.
Physics is a major offered under the physical sciences program of study at University of Notre Dame. Here, you’ll find out more about the major doctor’s degree program in physics, including such details as the number of graduates, ethnicity of students, related majors and concentrations, and more.
You can jump to any section of this page using the links below:
- Graduate Cost
- Online Learning
- Student Diversity
- Related Majors
- Focus Areas
How Much Does a Doctorate in Physics from Notre Dame Cost?
Notre dame graduate tuition and fees.
In 2019-2020, the average part-time graduate tuition at Notre Dame was $3,169 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for graduate student.
Does Notre Dame Offer an Online PhD in Physics?
Online degrees for the Notre Dame physics doctor’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Notre Dame Online Learning page.
Notre Dame Doctorate Student Diversity for Physics
Male-to-female ratio.
Women made up around 29.4% of the physics students who took home a doctor’s degree in 2019-2020. This is higher than the nationwide number of 20.0%.
Racial-Ethnic Diversity
None of the physics doctor’s degree recipients at Notre Dame in 2019-2020 were awarded to racial-ethnic minorities*.
PhD in Physics Focus Areas at Notre Dame
Physics students may decide to major in one of the following focus areas.
Majors Related to a PhD in Physics From Notre Dame
You may also be interested in one of these majors related to physics.
View All Physics Related Majors >
*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.
- National Center for Education Statistics
- O*NET Online
More about our data sources and methodologies .
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IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
Physics: PhD. Graduate Program in Physics and Astronomy. Program Handbook. Physics graduate students are actively involved in both experimental and theoretical studies in areas including astro-, bio-, condensed-matter, high-energy, and nuclear physics.
An Overview of the Notre Dame Physics and Astronomy Graduate Program. Our graduate students are an indispensable part of ND Physics and Astronomy, contributing to and energizing research in experimental and theoretical physics from a wide range of areas.
Applications should be submitted by December 15th for full consideration. We admit primarily students who start in the fall. Applications are evaluated by a physics admissions committee consisting of 5 or 6 faculty members who represent the primary research areas of the department plus the graduate student coordinator.
Current ND Physics and Astronomy graduate students can find a number of resources on this page, from important information regarding examinations and teaching assistantships and links to university-wide resources.
PhD in Physics. Department. Physics and Astronomy. Area of Study. Degree Types. Graduate Degrees, PhD. Physics graduate students are actively involved in both experimental and theoretical studies in areas including astro-, atomic, bio-, condensed-matter, high-energy, and nuclear physics.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) Test Scores: Some graduate programs require the GRE; for more details, please see the Degree Programs page or the program's website. Applicants who hold a PhD, JD, MD or other doctoral degree are not required to submit GRE scores.
University of Notre Dame is ranked No. 45 (tie) out of 199 in Best Engineering Schools. Schools were assessed on their performance across a set of widely accepted indicators of excellence.
Is University of Notre Dame the best science school for you? Find out at US News. See if University of Notre Dame is ranked and get info on programs, admission, tuition, and more.
Essential facts about the Notre Dame PhD in Physicsprogram: Average salary of grads, cost, average debt load, and more.
THE NOTRE DAME PHYSICS GRADUATE PROGRAM Graduate Students in Physics at Notre Dame • 100% receive full tuition support, a competitive stipend, and full medical insurance subsidy • approximately 100 grad students in physics • 30% are international • 29% are female • The University of Notre Dame is home to more than 2,200 students